Input devices incorporating biometric sensors

ABSTRACT

A button assembly for an electronic device is disclosed. The button assembly integrates a biometric sensor below a top surface of the button. The button assembly is positioned relative to a secondary display of an electronic device. The secondary display can be positioned relative to a keyboard, such as above a top row of keys of the keyboard.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/951,446, filed Nov. 18, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/355,540, filed Mar. 15, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No.10,853,614, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/239,977, filed Aug. 18, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,402,617, which isa nonprovisional patent application of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/235,538, filed Sep. 30, 2015, the disclosures ofwhich are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein generally relate to user-input devices and,more particularly, to input devices configured to biometricallyauthenticate users thereof.

BACKGROUND

An electronic device can include one or more buttons. A button istypically associated with one or more functions or operations of theelectronic device. In some examples, a user of the electronic device maydesire to restrict control of (and/or access to) an associated functionor operation of a particular button to a limited set of authorizedusers.

Upon activation of the button, the conventional electronic device mayrequire a password or passcode before the restricted function oroperation of the button is performed, thereby halting certain operationsof the conventional electronic device until the password or passcode issupplied.

SUMMARY

Certain embodiments described herein generally relate to buttons thatincorporate biometric sensors. A biometric sensor associated with such abutton can be used by the electronic device to restrict access tofeatures or functionality of the electronic device associated with thatbutton. Such buttons are generally referred to herein as“restricted-access buttons.”

For example, an electronic device such as described herein can include ahousing with a top portion and a bottom portion connected by a hinge.The electronic device can integrate a primary display into the topportion of the housing, a keyboard into the bottom portion of thehousing, a secondary display into the bottom portion of the housingbetween the keyboard and the hinge, and a restricted-access buttonabutting an end of the secondary display within the bottom portion ofthe housing. The restricted-access button can include a biometricsensor, such as a fingerprint sensor. In these embodiments, theelectronic device can obtain an image of a fingerprint each time therestricted-access button is pressed by a user. Thereafter, theelectronic device can determine whether the obtained fingerprint imagematches that of a previously authorized user, and if so, the electronicdevice can perform an action.

Further embodiments relate to components and assemblies that may be usedto form a restricted-access button such as described herein. Forexample, in some embodiments, a button assembly can include anelectrical switch, such as a compressible dome switch, in addition tothe biometric sensor. The compressible dome switch can be formed fromany number of suitable materials including, but not limited to: metal,plastic, rubber, conductive or non-conductive polymer, gels and so on.In some cases, the electrical switch may be an inverted dome switch, butthis may not be required of all embodiments. The electrical switch canbe placed below the biometric sensor so that operation of the biometricsensor may not be negatively affected by the presence of the electricalswitch.

In some embodiments, a seal (e.g., ring seal, gasket seal, caulking, andso on) can be positioned around the standoff(s) so as to seal the gapbetween the standoff and the sidewalls of the through-hole(s). In manycases, the seal may provide a liquid-impermeable barrier between thestandoff and the sidewalls of the through-hole. Additionally, one ormore seals can be disposed between the surfaces of either (or both) ofthe spring plate to the housing of the electronic device.

In some embodiments, the biometric sensor and the electrical switch maycouple to a flexible circuit. The flexible circuit may be configured tofold below the button assembly over a top surface of the housing of theelectronic device. The flexible circuit may be concealed behind anelement or feature of the electronic device that is positioned adjacentto the button assembly. For example, in one embodiment, the buttonassembly may be positioned next to a substantially flat input surfacesuch as, but not limited to: a touch sensitive display, an adaptiveinput row, a force sensitive input surface, and so on. In otherexamples, the flexible circuit may be concealed behind another featureof the electronic device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Reference will now be made to representative embodiments illustrated inthe accompanying figures. It should be understood that the followingdescriptions are not intended to limit the embodiments to one preferredembodiment. To the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives,modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit andscope of the described embodiments as defined by the appended claims.

FIG. 1A depicts an example electronic device incorporating arestricted-access button.

FIG. 1B depicts a detail view of the region A-A depicted in FIG. 1A,showing an electronic device embodiment in which the restricted-accessbutton extends proud of a surface of a housing of the electronic device.

FIG. 1C depicts a detail view of the region A-A depicted in FIG. 1A,showing an electronic device embodiment in which the restricted-accessbutton is flush with a surface of a housing of the electronic device.

FIG. 2A depicts an exploded cross-section assembly view of the buttonassembly of FIG. 2B.

FIG. 2B depicts the button assembly of FIG. 2A assembled.

FIG. 3A depicts a cross-section view of the button assembly of FIG. 2Btaken through section B-B of FIG. 2B.

FIG. 3B depicts the button assembly of FIG. 3A deflecting in response toa downward force, such as may be applied by a user.

FIG. 3C depicts a cross-section view of another embodiment of a buttonassembly.

FIG. 4 depicts a bottom view of the spring plate of the button assemblyof FIG. 3A

FIG. 5 depicts example operations of a method of coupling a buttonassembly to a housing of an electronic device.

FIG. 6 depicts example operations of a method of operating a button thatincorporates a biometric sensor.

The use of the same or similar reference numerals in different figuresindicates similar, related, or identical items.

The use of cross-hatching or shading in the accompanying figures isgenerally provided to clarify the boundaries between adjacent elementsand also to facilitate legibility of the figures. Accordingly, neitherthe presence nor the absence of cross-hatching or shading conveys orindicates any preference or requirement for particular materials,material properties, element proportions, element dimensions,commonalities of similarly illustrated elements, or any othercharacteristic, attribute, or property for any element illustrated inthe accompanying figures.

Additionally, it should be understood that the proportions anddimensions (either relative or absolute) of the various features andelements (and collections and groupings thereof) and the boundaries,separations, and positional relationships presented therebetween areprovided in the accompanying figures merely to facilitate anunderstanding of the various embodiments described herein and,accordingly, may not necessarily be presented or illustrated to scale,and are not intended to indicate any preference or requirement for anillustrated embodiment to the exclusion of embodiments described withreference thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments described herein generally reference an input component foran electronic device that incorporates a biometric sensor. An inputcomponent as described herein can be any suitable input component suchas, without limitation: a button, a key, a scroll wheel, a joystick, aforce sensor, a touch sensor, and so on. Accordingly, although manyembodiments described below reference buttons or keys as example inputcomponents, it may be appreciated that any suitable input component mayincorporate a biometric sensor using the systems and methods describedherein.

In some embodiments, a button of an electronic device incorporates abiometric sensor. As used herein, the term “biometric sensor” generallyrefers to a sensor configured to obtain data related to one or morephysiological or biometrically-identifying characteristics of abiological subject. The electronic device may utilize the biometricsensor in order to determine and/or authenticate an identity of a userof the electronic device. In many embodiments, the biometric sensor maybe incorporated within a power button of the electronic device.

In other cases, the electronic device utilizes the biometric sensor of aparticular button in order to control and/or limit access to a functionor operation of the electronic device associated with that button to alimited set of previously-authorized users. Herein, such a restrictionis generally referred to as a “restricted action” or a “restrictedfunction” of a button that may be performed only after the biometricsensor is used to authenticate the identity of a user that presses thebutton.

For example, in one embodiment, a power button of an electronic devicemay incorporate a biometric sensor (e.g., a fingerprint sensor). One ormore functions associated with the power button may be restrictedfunctions that can only be performed by an authorized user. For example,turning on or off the electronic device may be a restricted functionthat can only be performed by an authorized user or group of users. Inthis example, when the power button is pressed, an image of afingerprint may be obtained and compared to the previously-obtainedfingerprint images of the limited set of authorized users. If it isdetermined that the obtained image matches that of one of thepreviously-obtained fingerprint images of the limited set of authorizedusers, then the electronic device may perform the operation associatedwith the power button (e.g., turn on, turn off, enter a standby state,and so on). Alternatively, if it is determined that the obtained imagedoes not match that of one of the previously-obtained fingerprint imagesof the limited set of authorized users, the electronic device may notperform the operation associated with the power button. In some cases,the electronic device may notify the user that access is denied. Inother cases, the electronic device may not respond in any manner.

In many cases, the biometric sensor incorporated within a button may bea fingerprint sensor; however, this may not be required of allembodiments and other suitable biometric sensors may be included suchas, but not limited to: heartrate sensors, skin temperature sensors,galvanic skin response sensors, vein imaging sensors, iris imagingsystems, and so on. Accordingly, although many embodiments are describedbelow with reference to fingerprint sensors, it may be appreciated thatany suitable or implementation-specific biometric sensor may besubstituted therefor. Herein, a button incorporating a fingerprintsensor is referred to as a “restricted-access button.”

A restricted-access button may be incorporated into an electronic devicein any suitable manner. For example, in some embodiments, arestricted-access button can extend some distance from a housing of anelectronic device incorporating the same. For example, such a button maybe, without limitation: a key of a keyboard, a function button, acommand button, an alternative button, a control button, a power button,a shutter button, a space bar, an eject button, a mode button, asettings button, a network connection button, a restart button, a resetbutton, a factory restore button, an erase button, a shortcut button, anaudio volume button, an exit button, a quit button, a multifunctionbutton, and so on. An electronic device incorporating such a button canbe, without limitation: a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a tabletcomputer, a peripheral input device, an imaging device, a head unitdevice, a navigation device, an industrial control device, a wearableelectronic device, a multimedia device, and so on.

For many embodiments described herein, a restricted-access button is amultifunction and multimodal button. For example, the button may be ashutter button of a camera device that, when pressed by a user, causesan image or video of a subject to be captured. In other words, theshutter button may be associated with an image capture mode, a videocapture mode, an auto focus mode, or any other suitable mode. In theseexamples, different modes of the button may be associated withrestricted functions whereas other modes of the buttons may beassociated with unrestricted functions. As used herein, the phrases“unrestricted function” or “unrestricted action” refer to functions oroperations associated with a button incorporating a fingerprint sensorthat may be performed without using the fingerprint sensor toauthenticate the identity of a user that presses the button. In otherwords, it is appreciated that restricted-access buttons such asdescribed herein may be configured to perform both restricted functionsand unrestricted functions. Further, it may be appreciated that, in someconfigurations, a restricted-access button may be adapted to performonly unrestricted functions; in other words, a fingerprint sensor of arestricted-access button may be disabled and/or may be configured to beused in a manner disassociated with the functionality of the button inwhich it is contained.

Returning to the example presented above, a shutter button of a cameradevice can be a restricted-access button. In some examples, the shutterbutton may be a multimodal button associated with both restrictedfunctions and unrestricted functions. For example, an image capturefunction may be a restricted function whereas an autofocus function maybe an unrestricted function. The camera may change the restrictionstatus of a particular function from time to time. Herein, the phrase“restriction status” refers generally to whether a particular functionof a restricted-access button is a restricted function or anunrestricted function.

In many embodiments, a restricted-access button is configured tointegrate with other input components of an electronic device. Forexample, a restricted-access button may be incorporated as a key of akeyboard. In other cases, each key of a keyboard may be arestricted-access button.

In these embodiments, a restricted-access button may include cosmeticfeatures and characteristics matching those of other input components orother features of an electronic device nearby the restricted-accessbutton. In one example, a top surface of a restricted-access button isaligned and substantially coplanar with a top surface of another inputcomponent that is positioned adjacent the button. The other componentcan be, without limitation: another button; another restricted-accessbutton; a portion of the housing of the electronic device; another inputdevice such as a trackpad, keyboard, touch screen, scroll bar, amicrophone, and so on; a non-input device such as a display, speakergrill, or input/output port; and so on. In many embodiments, therestricted-access button may form a substantially continuous and/orcontiguous surface with other components nearby.

A restricted-access button such as described herein is typically formedfrom multiple individual components collectively referred to as a“button assembly.” In one example, the button assembly includes a buttoncap, an electrical switch, a fingerprint sensor, a standoff, and aspring plate. In many cases, the button assembly is configured to coupleto a housing of an electronic device. Generally and broadly, the buttoncap is positioned above the fingerprint sensor, which in turn ispositioned above the electrical switch. Collectively, the button cap,the fingerprint sensor, and the electrical switch are referred to hereinas the “upper assembly portion” of a button assembly of arestricted-access button.

The upper assembly portion may be attached to the housing of theelectronic device in any suitable manner. In some embodiments, the upperassembly portion may be movable with respect to the housing, althoughthis is not required (e.g., the upper assembly portion may be fixed withrespect to the housing for some embodiments). Herein, an upper assemblyportion that is fixed with respect to the housing is referred to as a“fixed upper assembly” whereas an upper assembly portion that is movablewith respect to the housing is referred to as a “movable upperassembly.”

A fixed upper assembly is typically disposed in a manner such that therestricted-access button sits flush with the housing of an electronicdevice incorporating the same. However, in other examples, a fixed upperassembly may extend proud of the surface of a housing of an electronicdevice incorporating the same. In these examples, the height of thefixed upper assembly may be selected to be approximately equal to theheight of an element adjacent to the restricted-access button. In oneexample, a fixed upper assembly is positioned above the keys of akeyboard; the height of the fixed upper assembly may be approximatelyequal to the height of the keys of that keyboard. In many embodiments,an electric switch of a fixed upper assembly may be a soft button, suchas a capacitive button, that detects the presence of a user's fingertip.In other cases, the electrical switch may be a force sensitive switchthat detects and/or measures the force with which a user applies afingertip to the button assembly. In some cases, the fingerprint sensoritself may be used as a soft button; the electrical switch may beomitted in certain embodiments implementing a fixed upper assembly.

A movable upper assembly of a movable button may be constrained alongone direction and permitted to move along another direction (e.g.,axis). In one embodiment, the movable upper assembly may besubstantially constrained in the X-direction and the Y-direction whilebeing unconstrained (but bounded) in the Z-direction. In other words,the upper assembly portion may be permitted, without certain bounds, totranslate along the Z-direction. In other cases, a movable upperassembly may be bounded in another manner. In one embodiment, a movableupper assembly may be configured as a cantilever. In many embodiments,an electric switch of a movable upper assembly may be a compressibleswitch, such as a dome switch, that collapses upon an application offorce by a user's fingertip. In many examples, the dome switch may beplaced in contact with a housing of an electronic device incorporatingthe restricted-access switch; when a downward force is applied to thebutton cap, the dome switch pushes against the housing of the electronicdevice to facilitate the collapse of the dome. The compressible portionof the dome switch can be formed from any number of suitable materialsincluding, but not limited to: metal, plastic, rubber, conductive ornon-conductive polymer, gels, and so on. In some cases, the electricalswitch may be an inverted dome switch, but this may not be required ofall embodiments. The electrical switch is typically placed below thefingerprint sensor so that the operation of fingerprint sensor may notbe negatively affected by the presence of the electrical switch.

In many embodiments, the fingerprint sensor and the electrical switchmay couple to a flexible circuit. The flexible circuit may be configuredto fold below the button assembly over a top surface of a housing of anelectronic device incorporating the same. The flexible circuit may beconcealed behind an element or feature of the electronic device that ispositioned adjacent to the button assembly. For example, in oneembodiment, the button assembly may be positioned next to asubstantially flat input surface such as, but not limited to: a touchsensitive display, an adaptive input row, a force sensitive inputsurface, and so on. In other examples, the flexible circuit may beconcealed behind another feature of the electronic device.

These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to FIGS.1-6 . However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that thedetailed description given herein with respect to these Figures is forexplanatory purposes only and should not be construed as limiting.

FIGS. 1A-1C generally depict an example electronic device that mayincorporate a restricted-access button. As illustrated, the electronicdevice is a foldable laptop computing device, although such animplementation is not required. In the illustrated embodiment, thefoldable laptop computing device (more generally, the “laptop”) includesa top clamshell portion and a bottom clamshell portion. The bottomclamshell portion incorporates a keyboard including multiple rows ofdepressible keys. The restricted-access button is positioned adjacent toa rectilinear display area (e.g., a touch-sensitive display) whichitself is generally positioned adjacent to the uppermost row of keys andbelow a display which is incorporated into the top clamshell portion ofthe laptop. In some cases, the restricted-access button is abutting anend of the rectilinear display. Typically, the top clamshell portion isconnected to the bottom clamshell portion by a hinge, but this may notbe required of all embodiments; the top clamshell portion can beremovable with respect to the bottom clamshell portion. Therestricted-access button may have a fixed upper assembly or a movableupper assembly and may extend proud of the housing of the keyboard(e.g., FIG. 1B) or may be flush with the housing of the keyboard (e.g.,FIG. 1C). In the illustrated embodiment, the restricted-access button isconfigured to form a substantially continuous surface with therectilinear display area.

More specifically, FIG. 1A depicts the laptop 100 in an open position.The laptop 100 includes a keyboard 102 with multiple rows of depressiblekeys, each key extending from (or flush with) a lower housing portion104 a (e.g., a bottom clamshell portion) of the laptop 100. The laptop100 also includes a main display 106 in an upper housing portion 104 b(e.g., a top clamshell portion). A user of the laptop 100 may utilizethe keyboard 102 as an interface to interact with the laptop 100. Morespecifically, the user may utilize the laptop 100 to interact with auser interface presented by the laptop 100, at least in part, on themain display 106.

The laptop 100 also includes a touch-sensitive display 108. Thetouch-sensitive display 108 can be generally positioned above thetopmost row of keys of the keyboard 102. The touch-sensitive display 108may include a secondary display used to present a set of indicia orvisual cues that correspond to a set of commands or functions that maybe selected by a user of the laptop 100. The touch-sensitive display 108may be responsive to a user touch or force input. In some cases, thetouch-sensitive display 108 can be used to perform similar functionalityas a traditional static function row of a conventional keyboard.

As noted above, the touch-sensitive display 108 can be configured todisplay a set of visual indicia that correspond to one or more inputmodes of the laptop 100 or the keyboard 102. The indicia on the displaymay correspond to, but are not limited to, one or more of the following:a hardware-dependent input mode used to control one or more devices orhardware elements of the laptop 100 or the keyboard 102; asoftware-dependent input mode used to control one or more aspects of asoftware program being executed on the laptop 100; a user-defined modethat is configurable by a user of the laptop 100 or the keyboard 102;and other input mode examples which are described herein. The display ofthe touch-sensitive display 108 may be used to present a set of staticindicia, one or more animated indicia, or a combination of static andanimated indicia.

The display of the touch-sensitive display 108 may be integrated withone or more touch sensors and/or force sensors that are configured todetect various combinations of user touch and force input (e.g.,gestures) on the surface of the touch-sensitive display 108. The touchand/or force sensors may provide a touch-sensitive surface that isconfigured to detect the location of a touch, a magnitude, and/ordirection of force applied, and/or a movement of the touch along thetouch-sensitive display 108. The touch and/or force sensors may be usedseparately or in combination to interpret a broad range of user inputssuch as, but not limited to: touch-based gestures, force-based gestures,touch patterns, tap patterns, single-finger gestures, multi-fingergestures, multi-force gestures, and so on.

A restricted-access button 110 is positioned adjacent to thetouch-sensitive display 108. In many embodiments, the restricted-accessbutton 110 includes a fingerprint sensor that may be used, optionally,to obtain an image of a fingerprint of a user pressing the user'sfingertip against the restricted-access button 110. As noted withrespect to other embodiments described herein, the restricted-accessbutton 110 can be used by the laptop 100 and/or the keyboard 102 tofacilitate controlled access to the features and/or operationsassociated with the restricted-access button 110.

In one embodiment, a top surface 110′ of the restricted-access button110 may be configured to be substantially flush with a top surface 108′of the touch-sensitive display 108 (see, e.g., FIG. 1B) and/or flushwith the lower housing portion 104 a. In other cases, the top surface110′ of the restricted-access button 110 may be configured to besubstantially flush with a top surface 102′ of the lower housing portion104 a of the laptop 100 (see, e.g., FIG. 1B). In many cases, and asillustrated, the restricted-access button 110 may be positionedimmediately adjacent to or abutting the touch-sensitive display 108 suchthat a seam 112 between the touch-sensitive display 108 and therestricted-access button 110 may be substantially hidden (see, e.g.,FIGS. 1B-1C). While the restricted-access button 110 may abut thetouch-sensitive display 108, there may be a small gap (e.g., less than 5mm) between the two components. In some cases, the touch-sensitivedisplay 108 and the restricted-access button 110 may be formed from thesame material and/or share some of the same components. In theseembodiments, the restricted-access button 110 forms a portion of thetouch-sensitive display 108.

In one example, the restricted-access button 110 is a multimodal powerbutton. The power button may be configured to change a power state ofthe laptop 100 and/or a power state of the keyboard 102.

In one example, when a user presses the power button, the keyboard 102can send a signal to the laptop 100 that the button has been pressed. Inresponse thereto, the laptop 100 may transition to a different powerstate such as, but not limited to: an on power state, an off powerstate, a standby power state, a low power state, or any other suitablepower state. One or more functions of the power button may be restrictedfunctions whereas other functions of the power button may beunrestricted functions. More specifically, the operation oftransitioning between various power states, performed by the laptop 100in this example, may be restricted actions or may be unrestrictedactions. In one example, a transition to an on power state from an offpower state may be an unrestricted action whereas a transition to an offpower state from an on power state may be a restricted action. Inanother non-limiting phrasing, the laptop 100 may permit any user toturn on the laptop 100 or another associated electronic device, whilepermitting only certain users to turn off the laptop 100.

In these examples, when a user presses the restricted-access button 110,the laptop 100 may first determine whether the action or function soughtto be performed by the laptop 100 or the keyboard 102 is a restrictedaction or an unrestricted action. If the action is a restricted action,then an image of a fingerprint may be obtained by the fingerprint sensorof the restricted-access button 110. The obtained fingerprint image maythen be compared to each fingerprint image (or templates) of a set ofpreviously-obtained fingerprint images (or templates) to determinewhether the user who pressed the restricted-access button 110 isauthorized to perform the requested function. Alternatively, if theaction is an unrestricted action, the laptop 100 may perform the actionwithout first obtaining a fingerprint image.

In further embodiments, the restricted-access button 110 can beconfigured to operate in a different manner. For example, therestricted-access button 110 may be configured to record and/or log theidentity of the last user to touch the restricted-access button 110and/or information related to unrecognized fingerprints obtained by therestricted-access button 110.

In some cases, the operation of obtaining a fingerprint image andcomparing the fingerprint to a set of known images may be performed bythe laptop 100. In other examples, the operation may be performed by thelaptop 100. In still further examples, the operation may be performed bya processor or circuitry coupled to or disposed within therestricted-access button 110.

After a fingerprint obtained by the fingerprint sensor of therestricted-access button 110 is recognized, one of a variety ofoperations may be performed by the laptop 100, the keyboard 102, or therestricted-access button 110. For example, in one embodiment, after afingerprint image is obtained by the fingerprint sensor of therestricted-access button 110 is recognized, the keyboard 102 may send asignal to the laptop 100 instructing the laptop 100 to perform therequested action. In another embodiment, after a fingerprint image isobtained by the fingerprint sensor of the restricted-access button 110is recognized, the keyboard 102 may send an encrypted signal, securitycertificate, a password, or other information to the laptop 100informing the laptop 100 that the keyboard 102 has identified a user.The laptop 100 may analyze the information received to determine whetherthe user is authorized to perform the requested task.

In further embodiments, the laptop 100 and/or the keyboard 102 canutilize the fingerprint sensor separately from the button containing thesensor. For example, fingerprint image data may be obtained from a userof the laptop 100 without a press of the button containing thefingerprint sensor. In still other cases, the fingerprint sensor may beconfigured to image a fingerprint of the user separately from activationof the respective button or associated action. More specifically, thebutton may have a default function that can be performed by the laptop100 that may be changed, updated, augmented, or enhanced only after afingerprint image is later recognized. For example, in theseembodiments, a fingerprint image may be taken after the button is fullypressed.

In many cases, the laptop 100 and/or the keyboard 102 can require both afull button press and an authenticated fingerprint in order to perform atask. For example, if the button is a power button, a full button pressby an authenticated user may be required to turn on the laptop 100 orthe keyboard 102. In this manner, two different types of input arerequired to power on the electronic device.

In further embodiments, the laptop 100 and/or the keyboard 102 canutilize the fingerprint sensor within the restricted-access button 110in a manner disassociated from the various functions and/or operationsof the restricted-access button 110. For example, the laptop 100 mayperiodically request that a user of the laptop 100 or the keyboard 102authenticate the user's identity by placing the user's fingertip on therestricted-access button 110. The laptop 100 may request that a user ofthe laptop 100 authenticate his or her identity in order to, withoutlimitation: grant access to an application or program executed by thelaptop 100, grant access to a feature of an application or programexecuted by the laptop 100, complete an electronic purchase, accessconfidential and/or private information stored on or otherwiseaccessible to the laptop 100, access system-level files and/ordirectories stored on or otherwise accessible to the laptop 100, approveor deny the establishment of a communication link between the laptop 100and another local or remote electronic device, apply settings associatedwith a particular user to the laptop 100 or an application or programoperating thereon, and so on.

The foregoing description of the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1A-1C,and various alternatives thereof and variations thereto are presented,generally, for purposes of explanation, and to facilitate a thoroughunderstanding of the detailed embodiments presented herein. However, itwill be apparent to one skilled in the art that some of the specificdetails presented herein may not be required in order to practice aparticular described embodiment, or an equivalent thereof. Thus, it isunderstood that the foregoing and following descriptions of specificembodiments are presented for the limited purposes of illustration anddescription. These descriptions are not targeted to be exhaustive or tolimit the disclosure to the precise forms recited herein. To thecontrary, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art thatmany modifications and variations are possible in view of the aboveteachings. Particularly, it may be understood that the restricted-accessbutton depicted in FIGS. 1A-1C can be implemented in a number ofsuitable and implementation-specific ways.

FIG. 2A depicts an exploded cross-section assembly view of the buttonassembly of FIG. 1C. The button assembly 200 includes an upper assemblyportion 202 and a lower assembly portion 204. The upper assembly portion202 includes a button cap 206, a fingerprint sensor 208, and acompressible dome switch 210. The lower assembly portion 204 includes aspring plate 212 and one or more fasteners 214.

Initially, reference is made to the interaction between the upperassembly portion 202, the lower assembly portion 204, and a housing 216of an electronic device (such as the laptop 100 depicted in FIG. 1C) towhich the button assembly 200 may be coupled.

Generally and broadly, the upper assembly portion 202 and the lowerassembly portion 204 are configured to couple to one another throughapertures defined in the housing 216. The housing 216 can be formed asan integral piece, or may be formed by removably or permanently adheringor otherwise attaching multiple parts to one another. Portions of thehousing 216 can be made from any suitable material including, but notlimited to: metal, amorphous metal, glass, sapphire, plastic, ceramic,synthetic material, organic material, and so on or any suitableimplementation-specific combination or mixture of the same. In somecases, portions of the housing 216 may exhibit anisotropic or isotropicelectrical or magnetic properties. The housing 216 may be formed in anynumber of suitable ways such as, but not limited to: machining, molding,insert molding, transfer molding, casting, or any other suitable processor combination of processes.

The housing 216 is shown in cutaway, exposing a portion of anindentation 218 into which the upper assembly portion 202 can be seated.The indentation 218 extends into the housing 216 from a top surfacethereof. The depth of the indentation 218 may vary from embodiment toembodiment. The indentation 218 typically is sized to follow a perimetershape of at least one element of the upper assembly portion 202. Forexample, as illustrated, the indentation 218 takes the general shape ofa rounded rectangle. In other cases, the indentation 218 may takeanother shape. The indentation 218 may be formed in the housing in anynumber of suitable ways such as, but not limited to: machining, molding,transfer molding, casting, or any other suitable process or combinationof processes.

The indentation 218 defines four independent through-holes, eachidentified as a through-hole 220. The upper assembly portion 202includes a portion that extends through the through-holes 220 in orderto couple to the lower assembly portion 204. In many embodiments, thethrough-holes 220 take a generally cylindrical shape, although this maynot be required of all embodiments. Similarly, although in manyembodiments four through-holes are included, this is not required. Inother embodiments, a greater or smaller number of through-holes 220 maybe implemented.

As noted above, the upper assembly portion 202 includes the button cap206, the fingerprint sensor 208, and the compressible dome switch 210.Next, reference is made to the various portions, components, andfeatures of the button cap 206.

The button cap 206 can be formed as an integral piece, or may be formedby removably or permanently adhering or otherwise attaching multipleparts to one another. Portions of the button cap 206 can be made fromany suitable material including, but not limited to: metal, glass,sapphire, plastic, ceramic, synthetic material, organic material, and soon or any suitable implementation-specific combination or mixture of thesame. In some cases, portions of the button cap 206 may exhibitanisotropic or isotropic electrical or magnetic properties. Asillustrated, and in many embodiments, the button cap 206 may have asubstantially flat upper (e.g., top) surface. In many cases, the uppersurface of the button cap 206 may be formed, at least in part, from amaterial that exhibits properties specifically suitable for a button capthat may be pressed by a user many times over the operational lifethereof. Suitable properties may include: oleophobic properties,hydrophobic properties, anti-reflective properties, mirror-likequalities, anti-scratch properties, anti-smudge properties, and so on.

In some embodiments, the button cap 206 may include a frame and a cover(as shown in FIGS. 3A-3C). Portions of the frame of the button cap 206can be made from any suitable material including, but not limited to:metal, glass, sapphire, plastic, ceramic, synthetic material, organicmaterial, and so on or any suitable implementation-specific combinationor mixture of the same. The cover is typically formed from a dielectricor insulating material such as, but not limited to: sapphire, glass,plastic.

The button cap 206 may be supported by four independent standoffs, eachconfigured to sit within one of the through-holes 220. The standoffs areeach identified in FIG. 2A as a standoff 222. Each of the standoffs 222can be formed as an integral piece, or may be formed by removably orpermanently adhering or otherwise attaching multiple parts to oneanother. Portions of an individual standoff can be made from anysuitable material including, but not limited to: metal, glass, sapphire,plastic, ceramic, synthetic material, organic material, and so on or anysuitable implementation-specific combination or mixture of the same. Insome cases, portions of the individual standoff may exhibit anisotropicor isotropic electrical or magnetic properties. In many embodiments, thestandoffs 222 take a generally cylindrical shape, although this may notbe required of all embodiments. Similarly, although in many embodimentsfour standoffs are included, this is not required. In other embodiments,a greater or smaller number of standoffs may be implemented.

In many cases, each standoff can made from the same material, althoughthis is not required. The standoffs 222 may each be rigid or may each beflexible, or different standoffs may have different relativeflexibility. In some embodiments, the standoffs 222 may be formed as aportion of the frame of the button cap 206.

In some embodiments, a seal (e.g., ring seal, gasket seal, caulking, andso on) can be positioned around the standoffs 222 so as to seal the gapbetween each standoff and the sidewalls of the through-holes 220. Insome cases, the seal may provide a liquid-impermeable barrier betweenthe standoff 222 and the sidewalls of the through-hole 220. In othercases, the seal may electrically isolate the button assembly 200 fromthe housing 216. Additionally, one or more seals can be disposed betweenthe surfaces of either (or both) of the spring plate 212 to the housing216 of the electronic device.

The button cap 206 may also include a bumper 224. The bumper 224 may beconfigured to extend from a back surface of the button cap 206. Thebumper 224 may be formed from the same material as a portion of thebutton cap 206 but this may not be required. For example, the bumper 224may be formed from a material such as, but not limited to: rubber, foam,plastic, silicone, and the like.

The bumper 224 may be configured to impact a surface of the indentation218. In this manner, the bumper 224 controls and/or bounds the travel ofthe button cap 206 as it is pressed downwardly by a user.

In some cases, such as illustrated, only a single bumper may beincluded. In these embodiments, the bumper 224 may also serve as acantilever and/or fulcrum. In other words, once the button cap 206 isdepressed by a user a sufficient distance such that the bumper 224impacts a surface of the indentation 218, the button cap 206 maycantilever at an angle away from the bumper 224.

As noted above, the upper assembly portion 202 includes the button cap206, the fingerprint sensor 208, and the compressible dome switch 210.Next, reference is made to the fingerprint sensor 208 and thecompressible dome switch 210.

As noted above with respect to other embodiments described herein, arestricted-access button can include any number of suitable biometricsensors, one of which may be a fingerprint sensor. In the illustratedembodiment, the fingerprint sensor 208 takes a generally square shape,although this may not be required of all embodiments. For example, insome cases, the fingerprint sensor 208 can take a circular shape or arectangular shape.

The fingerprint sensor 208 can be implemented with any suitablefingerprint imaging or detection technology including, but not limitedto: capacitive sensing, optical sensing, electrical impedance sensing,acoustic impedance sensing, and so on. In some examples, the fingerprintsensor 208 can include multiple independent electrical components, inaddition to the electrical components configured to obtain a fingerprintimage. For example, the fingerprint sensor 208 can include, withoutlimitation: analog circuit components, digital circuit components,processors, digital logic circuits, memory circuits, or any combinationthereof.

In some embodiments, the fingerprint sensor 208 may include atwo-dimensional array of electrodes such as capacitive sensors,electrical impedance sensors, ultrasonic sensors, and the like. Thefingerprint sensor 208 may be disposed onto a bottom surface of thebutton cap 206 (or the cover thereof) such that when a user contacts thebutton cap 206 with the user's fingertip, an image of a fingerprint ofthe user may be obtained.

The compressible dome switch 210 may be any suitable dome switch that isconfigured to complete an electrical circuit on compression. In manyexamples, the compressible dome switch 210 includes a compressible domethat may be made from any number of suitable materials including but notlimited to: metals, plastics, glass-doped plastics, polymers, and so on.In other example, the compressible dome switch 210 may be includedsolely to provide a haptic feedback.

Next, reference is made to the order with which the various elements andcomponents of the upper assembly portion 202 are assembled. In manyembodiments, and as illustrated, the fingerprint sensor 208 may bepositioned below the button cap 206. The fingerprint sensor 208 may abuta bottom surface of the button cap 206. For embodiments in which thebutton cap 206 includes a frame and a cover, the fingerprint sensor 208may be disposed at least partially within the frame, and may bepositioned to abut an underside of the cover.

In many cases, the fingerprint sensor 208 may sit within an areacircumscribed by the standoffs 222. For example, the fingerprint sensor208 may be aligned such that each corner of the fingerprint sensor 208is adjacent one of the standoffs 222. In another example, thefingerprint sensor 208 may be aligned at an angle with respect to thestandoffs 222. For example, the fingerprint sensor 208 may be rotatedforty-five degrees with respect to the layout of the standoffs 222.

In many embodiments, the compressible dome switch 210 is positionedbelow the fingerprint sensor 208. This configuration ensures that theoperation of the fingerprint sensor 208 is not affected by the presenceof the compressible dome switch 210. In some examples, the fingerprintsensor 208 and the compressible dome switch 210 may be coupled to oneanother; for example the compressible dome switch 210 may be adhered orotherwise attached to a back surface of the fingerprint sensor 208. Inother embodiment, the compressible dome switch 210 and the fingerprintsensor 208 can be separated by one or more intermediate elements suchas, but not limited to: foam pads, separators, spacer, shims, and so on.

The compressible dome switch 210 may be positioned above a surface ofthe indentation 218. In this manner, when a user presses the button cap206 in a downward direction (e.g., in the negative Z direction), thecompressible dome switch 210 may compress between the fingerprint sensor208 and the surface of the indentation 218.

As noted above, in many embodiments the fingerprint sensor 208 isconfigured to move with the button cap 206 in response to a force by auser. In other cases, the fingerprint sensor 208 may be stationary andthe button cap 206 may move with respect thereto.

Next, reference is made to the lower assembly portion 204, including thespring plate 212 and one or more fasteners 214.

Generally and broadly, the spring plate 212 serves to provide an upwardbiasing force to the button cap 206 via the standoffs 222. The springplate 212 can be implemented in any number of suitable ways. Forexample, in the illustrated embodiment, the spring plate 212 is formedas a plate with two oppositely oriented cutout portions forming twoindependent tongues, each labeled as an inner tongue 226 and an outertongue 228. The inner tongue 226 is defined within the outer tongue 228.In many cases, the spring plate 212 is formed from metal, but this maynot be required of all embodiments. For example the spring plate 212 canbe made from a layer of, or a laminate of, one or more of the following:metal, plastic, strengthened plastic, acrylic and so on.

In a typical embodiment, the spring plate 212 may be fastened to aninner surface of the housing 216. In many cases, one or more of thefasteners 214 can be used in order to attach the spring plate 212 to thehousing 216. In one embodiment, the inner tongue 226 is directly coupledto the housing 216. In this manner, the remaining portions of the springplate 212 may be configured to defect into the housing 216. Morespecifically, a perimeter of the spring plate 212, along with the outertongue 228, may be configured to deflect away from the inner surface ofthe housing 216. In many examples, this configuration permits asubstantially uniform (e.g., substantially planar in the Z-direction,constrained in the X-direction and the Y-direction) downward translationof the button cap 206. In many examples, and as noted above, the bumper224 of the button cap 206 may impact a surface of the indentation 218after the button cap 206 translates downwardly a certain distance. Forexample, the bumper 224 of the button cap 206 may impact a surface ofthe indentation 218 that is between two of the through-holes 220. Afterthe bumper 224 impacts said surface, the button cap 206 may continuedownwardly in a cantilevered manner, pivoting on the bumper 224 as afulcrum. As may be appreciated, the configuration of the spring plate212 may facilitate this cantilevered motion as well; in this manner, thespring plate 212 facilitates both substantially planar downward motionin addition to cantilevered motion.

Further, in many embodiments, the inner tongue 226 and the outer tongue228 are formed as linearly-aligned cutouts in the spring plate 212. Thecutouts, as illustrated, can take a U shape. In the illustratedembodiment, the inner tongue 226 takes the shape of a small, inverted Uthat is inset within the larger U-shaped outer tongue 228. Particularly,in these and other embodiments, the inner tongue 226 and the outertongue 228 are aligned to the direction along which the button cap 206may move in a cantilevered manner after the bumper 224 impacts thesurface of the indentation 218 of the housing 218. In anothernon-limiting phrasing, it may be appreciated that the tongues of thespring plate 212 are aligned so that the spring plate 212 can bend anddeflect along the Z-direction and the Y-direction, while remainingsubstantially constrained in the X-direction. In many embodiments, thisconfiguration permits tight tolerances between the housing 218 of theelectronic device and the button cap 206. Similarly, this configurationpermits tight tolerances between the button cap 206 and the rectilineardisplay area 232 (e.g., a touch-sensitive display).

Thus, generally and broadly, for many embodiments described herein, thespring plate 212 may serve several purposes including, but not limitedto: providing an upward biasing force to a button cap of the buttonassembly; facilitating substantially planar downward translation alongthe Z-direction; facilitating cantilevered or partially angledtranslation along the Y-direction; constraining any motion ortranslation along the X-direction; and so on.

It is appreciated that, in other embodiments, the spring plate 212 maybe implemented in another manner suitable to provide more constrained orless constrained motion of a button cap, such as the button cap 206.Further it is appreciated that the specific geometry of the spring plate212 depicted in FIGS. 2A-2B is merely an example; other configurationsof the spring plate 212 may be suitable in different embodiments.

In many embodiments the standoffs 222 of the button cap 206 extendthrough the housing 216 in order to couple to portions of the outertongue 228 of the spring plate 212. In this manner, when a user pressesthe button cap 206, the standoffs 222 may travel into the housing 216via the through-holes 220, thereby causing the outer tongue 228 of thespring plate 212 to bend inwardly with respect to the housing. When theuser releases the button cap 206, the spring plate 212 provides anupwardly biasing force to return the button cap 206 to its originalposition.

Next, reference is made to the manner in which the fingerprint sensor208 and/or the compressible dome switch 210 may couple to anothercircuit with the electronic device incorporating the same.

In the illustrated embodiment, the fingerprint sensor 208 and theelectrical switch may couple to a flexible circuit 230. The flexiblecircuit 230 may be configured to fold below the upper assembly portion202 over a top surface of the housing 216 of the electronic device. Theflexible circuit 230 may be concealed behind an element or feature ofthe electronic device that is positioned adjacent to the button assembly200, such as a rectilinear display area 232. The rectilinear displayarea 232 can correspond to the touch-sensitive display 108 of FIGS.1A-1C.

As noted with respect to other embodiments described herein, when thebutton assembly 200 is assembled, such as shown in FIG. 2B, a topsurface 206′ of the button cap 206 may be substantially flush with a topsurface 232′ of the rectilinear display area 232 (or another elementpositioned nearby). In many embodiments, such as illustrated, the topsurface 206′ of the button cap 206 may also be substantially flush witha top surface 216′ of the housing 216 of the electronic device.

In many cases, the material of the button cap 206 may be the same as thematerial of the top surface 232′ of the rectilinear display area 232. Inone example, the material may be glass or sapphire.

As with other embodiments described herein, the foregoing description ofthe embodiment depicted in FIGS. 2A-2B, and various alternatives thereofand variations thereto are presented, generally, for purposes ofexplanation, and to facilitate a thorough understanding of the detailedembodiments presented herein. However, it will be apparent to oneskilled in the art that some of the specific details presented hereinmay not be required in order to practice a particular describedembodiment, or an equivalent thereof. Thus, it is understood that theforegoing and following descriptions of specific embodiments arepresented for the limited purposes of illustration and description.These descriptions are not targeted to be exhaustive or to limit thedisclosure to the precise forms recited herein. To the contrary, it willbe apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modificationsand variations are possible in view of the above teachings.Particularly, it may be understood that the button assembly depicted inFIGS. 2A-2B can be implemented in a number of suitable andimplementation-specific ways with additional or fewer parts than thosedescribed above.

Generally and broadly, FIGS. 3A-3C depict the button assembly of FIG. 2Btaken along section line B-B. These figures illustrate the relationshipbetween the various components of the button assembly once said assemblyis fully assembled to the housing of the electronic device.

Particularly, reference is now made to FIG. 3A in which a cross-sectionview of the button assembly of FIG. 2B taken through section B-B of FIG.2B is shown. The button assembly 200 is depicted with an upper assemblyportion coupled to a lower assembly portion through apertures defined inthe housing 216. The button cap 206 is shown with a frame 234 thatsupports a cover 236. The cover 236 is supported within the frame 234 bya lip 238 that extends from the frame 234. The fingerprint sensor 208,which includes a sensor portion 240 and a substrate portion 242 isdisposed below the cover 236. In some cases, and as illustrated, thefingerprint sensor 208 is positioned at least partially behind the lip238. The compressible dome switch 210 is coupled to the underside of thesubstrate portion 242 of the fingerprint sensor 208. The standoffs 222extend through the housing 216 and are coupled to the spring plate 212by the fasteners 214.

In this configuration, the button cap 206 is substantially flush with atop surface of the housing 216 and the rectilinear display area 232. Inthese cases, a seam 244 between the button cap 206 and rectilineardisplay area 232 can be minimized. In many embodiments a seam 246between the button cap 206 and an edge of a sidewall of the indentation218 (not shown) can have a width that is selected to facilitate apartial cantilevered rotation of the button cap 206 when the button cap206 is depressed and the bumper 224 impacts a top surface of theindentation 218 of the housing 216, such as shown in FIG. 3B, in which aportion of the inner tongue 226 is shown, partially deflected as aresult of the downward force F applied by the user.

The cantilevered rotation allows the button cap 206 to compress withoutimpacting, touching, transferring a load, or otherwise interfering withthe operation of the rectilinear display area 232. The seam 246 may alsobe selected so as to prevent the button cap 206 from contacting thehousing 216. In other words, the seam 246 may be selected so thatelectrical isolation may be maintained between the button cap 206 andthe housing 216. In many embodiments, the electrical isolation mayassist with the operation of the fingerprint sensor 208. In some cases,either or both the seams 244, 246 may be filled with a flexible materialsuch as silicone.

In some cases, the cover 236 may extend across only a portion of theframe 234, such as shown in FIGS. 3A-3B. In other cases, the cover 236may extend across the entire top surface of the button cap 206, such asshown in FIG. 3C. In some cases, the frame 234 may be electricallyconductive and may be electrically connected to the fingerprint sensor208. In one example, such as shown in FIGS. 3A-3B, the frame 234 mayserve as a grounding ring for the fingerprint sensor 208. In othercases, such as shown in FIG. 3C, the frame 234 may serve as anon-contact grounding ring.

FIG. 4 depicts a bottom view of the spring plate of the button assemblyof FIG. 3A, showing a lower assembly portion 204. The lower assemblyportion 204 includes the spring plate 212 which is coupled to the upperassembly portion 202 via the standoffs 222 which extend through thethrough-holes 220 defined in the housing 216. The spring plate 212 iscoupled to the housing 216 at the inner tongue 226 via the fasteners214. In this manner, the outer tongue 228 and the remaining portions ofthe spring plate 212 may be free to extend into the housing 216, inresponse to a press of the button cap 206 (not shown).

It may be appreciated that the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 2A-4 ismerely one example embodiment of a button assembly that may be used toattach a restricted-access button to the housing of an electronicdevice. Accordingly, it is understood that many variations and manyimplementations thereof may be possible in view of the disclosureprovided herein.

FIG. 5 depicts example operations of a method of coupling a buttonassembly to a housing of an electronic device. The method 500 beings atoperation 502 in which a spring plate is attached to an interior portionof a housing of an electronic device. The spring plate may bepermanently or removably affixed to the housing in any number ofsuitable ways including, but not limited to, being affixed by: adhesivedisposed between the housing and the spring plate, a mechanical fastener(such as a screw or rivet) coupling the housing and the spring plate,welding the spring plate to the housing, and so on.

Typically, as noted with respect to the embodiment depicted in FIGS.2A-2B, the spring plate may be affixed to the housing below an aperturedefined in the housing. The aperture permits a portion of the frame ofthe button assembly to extend through the housing and couple to thespring plate. Accordingly, at operation 504, the method continues byaffixing the button frame to the spring plate. The button frame may bepermanently or removably affixed to the housing in any number ofsuitable ways including, but not limited to, being affixed by: adhesivedisposed between the button frame and the spring plate, a mechanicalfastener (such as a screw or rivet) coupling the button frame and thespring plate, welding the button frame to the spring plate, and so on.

FIG. 6 depicts example operations of a method of operating a button thatincorporates a biometric sensor. The method 600 may be performed by anelectronic device, such as the laptop 100 or the keyboard 102 depictedin FIGS. 1A-1C. In other examples, the method 600 can be performed, atleast in part by, without limitation: one or more processors, one ormore digital circuits, one or more analog circuits, one or morecomputing devices (either remote or local) in communication with oneanother, computer- or processor-executable instructions stored in anon-transitory memory, or any combination thereof.

The method 600 begins at operation 602 in which a button press may bedetected. A button press may be detected by, without limitation: acapacitive sensor, a resistive sensor, an electrical impedance sensor, acollapsible dome switch, a tilt switch, a piezoelectric charge detector,and so on. In some cases, a button press may be detected by a biometricsensor. In other cases, a button press may be detected by an electricalswitch such as a dome switch.

Next at operation 604, biometric data can be obtained by the biometricsensor. In many examples, biometric data may be a fingerprint. In otherexamples, biometric data may be any other suitable biometric data suchas, but not limited to: heart rate, blood oxygenation, respiration rate,median arterial pressure, galvanic skin response, vein patterns, and soon. In some examples, multiple biometric characteristics may beobtained. For example, in one embodiment, a fingerprint and a heart ratemay be measured. In other examples, a fingerprint and a galvanic skinresponse can be measured. In other cases, different biometriccharacteristics, or combinations of characteristics may be measured orotherwise obtained.

Next, at operation 606, the biometric data obtained at operation 604 maybe analyzed. In one example, the biometric data may be compared topreviously-obtained data (or template data derived frompreviously-obtained data). For example, a fingerprint image obtained atoperation 604 may be compared to each of a set of previously-obtainedfingerprint images and/or templates derived from previously-obtainedfingerprint images.

The biometric data may be compared to the previously-obtained data (ortemplate data) in order to determine a statistical likelihood that thebiometric data obtained at operation 604 matches that of at least one ofthe previously-obtained data (or templates). In some examples, thestatistical likelihood may be a match coefficient that represents aconfidence interval that the obtained biometric data is a match for atleast one of the previously-obtained biometric data. In many cases, thematch coefficient may be compared to a threshold; only if the matchcoefficient exceeds the threshold is a positive match identified.

In other cases, the biometric data can be directly compared to athreshold in order to determine whether a positive match should beidentified. For example, if the biometric data is related to a user'sheart rate, the operation of analyzing the biometric data may includedetermining whether the user's measured heartrate exceeds a certainminimum threshold. In other cases, a maximum threshold may be used. Instill further cases, it may be determined whether the biometric datafalls within a particular range.

Once a positive match is determined (e.g., via comparison topreviously-obtained biometric data and/or via comparison topre-determined thresholds), the method may continue to operation 608 andthe command associated with the button is invoked. In some instances, ifa positive match is not determined and/or the user is not authorized toperform a function or command associated with the button, then thebutton press may be ignored or suppressed by the device.

Although many embodiments described and depicted herein referencerestricted-access buttons incorporated within keyboard devices, itshould be appreciated that other implementations can take other formfactors. Thus, the various embodiments described herein, as well asfunctionality, operation, components, and capabilities thereof, may becombined with other elements as necessary, and so any physical,functional, or operational discussion of any element or feature is notintended to be limited solely to a particular embodiment to theexclusion of others.

For example, although the electronic device is shown in FIGS. 1A-1C as alaptop keyboard, it may be appreciated that other electronic devices arecontemplated. For example, the electronic device can be implemented as adifferent peripheral input device, a desktop computing device, ahandheld input device, a tablet computing device, a cellular phone, awearable device, and so on.

Further, it may be appreciated that the electronic device can includeone or more components that interface or interoperate, either directlyor indirectly, with the restricted-access button 110 which, forsimplicity of illustration are not depicted in FIGS. 1A-1C. For example,the electronic device may include a processor coupled to or incommunication with a memory, a power supply, one or more sensors, one ormore communication interfaces, and one or more input/output devices suchas a display, a speaker, a rotary input device, a microphone, an on/offbutton, a mute button, a separate biometric sensor, a camera, a forceand/or touch sensitive trackpad, and so on.

In some embodiments, the communication interfaces provide electroniccommunications between the electronic device and an externalcommunication network, device (such as the laptop 100) or platform. Thecommunication interfaces can be implemented as wireless interfaces,Bluetooth interfaces, universal serial bus interfaces, Wi-Fi interfaces,TCP/IP interfaces, network communications interfaces, or anyconventional communication interfaces. The electronic device may provideinformation related to externally connected or communicating devicesand/or software executing on such devices, messages, video, operatingcommands, and so forth (and may receive any of the foregoing from anexternal device), in addition to communications. As noted above, forsimplicity of illustration, the electronic device is depicted in FIGS.1A-1C without many of these elements, each of which may be included,partially, optionally, or entirely, within the laptop 100.

As used herein, the phrase “laptop computer” and “laptop computingdevice” (and related phrases and terms), generally refer to the class ofpersonal, corporate, and/or industrial computing devices having a formfactor that accommodates and facilitates mobile and/or portable use ofthe device. Such devices may alternatively be referred to as, withoutlimitation, laptops, notebooks, netbooks, ultrabooks, gaming stations,detachables, tablets with keyboards, portable terminals, portableworkstations, all-in-one devices, hybrid computing devices, and so on.Typically, a laptop computer includes a keyboard section and a primarydisplay section separated by a hinge or other removable or fixedcoupling, although other implementations are possible. Moreparticularly, the keyboard section may be detachable, removable, orpermanently affixed to the primary display section. In many examples, alaptop computer may include a battery or other untethered power source,although this may not be required. It may be appreciated that thespecific examples of “laptop computers” listed above are not exhaustive;additional portable device implementations may be considered a laptopcomputer in the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

However, for simplicity of description and to emphasize that theembodiments presented herein are not limited to one particularelectronic device type or implementation, the embodiments that followare described simply in reference to an “electronic device.” Theelectronic device referenced in the following embodiments and examplescan be any suitable electronic device. For example, the electronicdevice may be a mobile, stationary, or portable electronic device suchas, but not limited to: laptop computing devices (such as the laptop 100depicted in FIGS. 1A-1C), a desktop computer, a tablet computer, acellular phone, an automotive or vehicle control system, an industrialcontrol system, a home or commercial appliance, a home automationdevice, or any other suitable electronic device.

In some embodiments, the example electronic device can be configured to,at least partially, surround a display, such as the touch-sensitivedisplay 108. As noted above, in many embodiments, the touch-sensitivedisplay 108 may incorporate an input device configured to receive touchinput, force input, and the like and/or may be configured to outputinformation to a user. The touch-sensitive display 108 can include adisplay that can be implemented with any suitable technology, including,but not limited to, a multi-touch or multi-force sensing touchscreenthat uses liquid crystal display technology, light-emitting diodetechnology, organic light-emitting display technology, organicelectroluminescence technology, or another type of display technology.

The example electronic device can form an outer surface or partial outersurface and protective case for the internal components of theelectronic device. In the illustrated embodiment, the electronic deviceis formed in a substantially rectangular shape, although thisconfiguration is not required. The electronic device can be formed ofone or more components operably connected together, such as a frontpiece and a back piece or a top clamshell and a bottom clamshell.Alternatively, the electronic device can be formed of a single piece(e.g., uniform body or unibody).

Further, it may be appreciated that, although reference is made hereinto the orientation of particular objects and elements, it should beunderstood that such orientations may be altered or varied in certainembodiments. Likewise, orientations and directions discussed herein aregenerally provided with respect to the figures herein. Accordingly,“up,” “down,” “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “rear,” “side” and like termsare intended as relative terms, not absolute.

Further, it should be appreciated that the various embodiments describedherein, as well as the functionality, operation, components, andcapabilities thereof may be combined with other elements or embodimentsas necessary, and so any physical, functional, or operational discussionof any element, feature, structure, or interrelation therebetween is notintended to be limited solely to a particular embodiment to theexclusion of others.

One may appreciate that although many embodiments are disclosed above,that the operations and steps presented with respect to methods andtechniques described herein are meant as exemplary and accordingly arenot exhaustive. One may further appreciate that alternate step order or,fewer or additional steps may be required or desired for particularembodiments.

Although the disclosure above is described in terms of various exemplaryembodiments and implementations, it should be understood that thevarious features, aspects and functionality described in one or more ofthe individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to theparticular embodiment with which they are described, but instead can beapplied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the someembodiments of the invention, whether or not such embodiments aredescribed and whether or not such features are presented as being a partof a described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the presentinvention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplaryembodiments but is instead defined by the claims herein presented.

The present disclosure recognizes that personal information data,including biometric data, in the present technology can be used to thebenefit of users. For example, the use of biometric authentication datacan be used for convenient access to device features without the use ofpasswords. In other examples, user biometric data is collected forproviding users with feedback about their health or fitness levels.Further, other uses for personal information data, including biometricdata, that benefit the user are also contemplated by the presentdisclosure.

The present disclosure further contemplates that the entitiesresponsible for the collection, analysis, disclosure, transfer, storage,or other use of such personal information data will comply withwell-established privacy policies and/or privacy practices. Inparticular, such entities should implement and consistently use privacypolicies and practices that are generally recognized as meeting orexceeding industry or governmental requirements for maintaining personalinformation data private and secure, including the use of dataencryption and security methods that meet or exceed industry orgovernment standards. For example, personal information from usersshould be collected for legitimate and reasonable uses of the entity andnot shared or sold outside of those legitimate uses. Further, suchcollection should occur only after receiving the informed consent of theusers. Additionally, such entities should take any needed steps forsafeguarding and securing access to such personal information data andensuring that others with access to the personal information data adhereto their privacy policies and procedures. Further, such entities cansubject themselves to evaluation by third parties to certify theiradherence to widely accepted privacy policies and practices.

Despite the foregoing, the present disclosure also contemplatesembodiments in which users selectively block the use of, or access to,personal information data, including biometric data. That is, thepresent disclosure contemplates that hardware and/or software elementscan be provided to prevent or block access to such personal informationdata. For example, in the case of biometric authentication methods, thepresent technology can be configured to allow users to optionally bypassbiometric authentication steps by providing secure information such aspasswords, personal identification numbers (PINS), contact gestures, orother authentication methods, alone or in combination, known to those ofskill in the art. In another example, users can select to remove,disable, or restrict access to certain health-related applicationscollecting users' personal health or fitness data.

What is claimed is:
 1. A laptop computing device comprising: an upperportion comprising a display; a hinge; a lower portion coupled to theupper portion by the hinge; and a keyboard coupled to the lower portionand comprising a set of depressible keys including a depressible powerbutton comprising: a cap comprising a sapphire sheet defining an upperexposed surface of the depressible power button that extends across anentirety of the depressible power button, the upper exposed surfaceconfigured to receive a touch input and a press input; a groundingelement positioned below the sapphire sheet and configured to functionas a non-contact ground in response to the touch input; a biometricsensor positioned below the sapphire sheet and configured to detect thetouch input; a compressible switch positioned below the biometric sensorand configured to detect the press input; and a spring elementpositioned below the cap and configured to resist movement of the cap inresponse to the touch input and deform in response to the press input.2. The laptop computing device of claim 1, wherein the biometric sensoris a capacitive sensor configured to detect a fingerprint of a user inresponse to the touch input to the cap.
 3. The laptop computing deviceof claim 2, wherein: the laptop computing device is configured toauthorize a function in response to the touch input corresponding to atouch by an authorized user; and the laptop computing device isconfigured to change a power state in response to the press input. 4.The laptop computing device of claim 2, wherein the biometric sensor ispositioned between the cap and the spring element.
 5. The laptopcomputing device of claim 1, wherein the upper exposed surface of thecap is substantially planar.
 6. The laptop computing device of claim 1,wherein: the depressible power button comprises a frame positionedbetween the spring element and the cap; and the frame operates as agrounding element for the biometric sensor.
 7. The laptop computingdevice of claim 6, wherein: the frame defines an opening; the biometricsensor is positioned at least partially within the opening; and the capis positioned on an upper surface of the frame.
 8. The laptop computingdevice of claim 6, wherein the frame comprises one or more standoffsthat support the cap.
 9. A laptop device comprising: an upper portioncomprising a display; a lower portion coupled to the upper portion; anda depressible power button coupled to the lower portion and comprising:a ceramic cap defining a substantial entirety of an upper exposedsurface of the depressible power button; a spring plate positioned belowthe ceramic cap and configured to maintain the ceramic cap in anundepressed position in response to a first user input and deform inresponse to a second user input that moves the ceramic cap from theundepressed position and to a depressed position; a frame positionedbetween the ceramic cap and the spring plate and configured to operateas a non-contact grounding element for the depressible power button; anda biometric sensor positioned between the ceramic cap and the springplate and configured to obtain biometric data in response to the firstuser input.
 10. The laptop device of claim 9, wherein the biometricsensor is configured to detect at least a portion of a fingerprint of auser contacting the ceramic cap.
 11. The laptop device of claim 10,wherein the biometric sensor comprises a capacitive sensor configured todetect the portion of the fingerprint through the ceramic cap.
 12. Thelaptop device of claim 10, wherein the biometric sensor comprises anoptic sensor configured to detect an image of the portion of thefingerprint through the ceramic cap.
 13. The laptop device of claim 9,wherein: the frame defines an opening; and the biometric sensor ispositioned at least partially within the opening.
 14. A laptop computingdevice comprising: an upper portion comprising a display; a lowerportion coupled to the upper portion; and a power button positionedwithin a recess in the lower portion and comprising: a cap defining anentirety of an exposed upper surface of the power button and configuredto move between an undepressed position and a depressed position; aframe positioned below the cap and configured to operate as anon-contact grounding element in response to a user touch to the cap; aspring positioned below the cap and coupled to the lower portion; abiometric sensor positioned between the cap and the spring andconfigured to detect a fingerprint of a user through the cap; and acompressible switch positioned below the biometric sensor and betweenthe cap and the spring; wherein: in response to a touch input, thespring is configured to resist movement of the cap and maintain the capin the undepressed position and detect the fingerprint of the user; andin response to a press input, the spring is configured to bend to allowthe cap to move to the depressed positioned and the compressible switchis configured to detect the movement of the cap.
 15. The laptopcomputing device of claim 14, wherein: the cap comprises a sapphirematerial that defines the entirety of the exposed upper surface; and theexposed upper surface is substantially planar.
 16. The laptop computingdevice of claim 14, wherein: the frame defines an opening; and thebiometric sensor is positioned at least partially within the opening ofthe frame.